Mechner Talks 'Deeper, Stranger' Prince Of Persia Graphic Novel, Film

As part of an in-depth interview posted today on Gamasutra, Prince Of Persia creator Jordan Mechner has been discussing cross-media projects based on the IP, including a new graphic novel and progress on the PoP film.

Mechner, who owns the Prince Of Persia IP, explained the genesis of the graphic novel, for which more information will be available at Comicon later this week, commenting:

"Mark Siegel, who is the editor of First Second Books -- an imprint based on the east coast which does really classy, high-quality, European-style graphic novels... approached me about doing a Prince of Persia graphic novel. Mark did this in complete innocence of the fact that there was going to be a Disney/Bruckheimer movie, and he didn't even really know about the new generation of Ubisoft video games."

Mechner explains: "He actually came to me because he remembered playing the old Prince of Persia on the Apple II back in the '90s, and had this weird idea that it might make a cool graphic novel. So don't think he knew what he was really getting into!"

He adds: "So we decided that because this was a unique, once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something that literally nobody would answer to, rather than do an adaption of the movie or any of the games, we would just create a completely new, completely original Prince of Persia story."

More information on the creative team is likely to be released in the near future, but Mechner commented: "I found a really great writer who is a really unique talent, and he brings a great background richness in authentic Persian myth and poetry."

Apparently: "His mandate was to take Prince of Persia back to the mythic roots of the story, and I think Prince of Persia game fans will be really surprised when they see it. Hopefully they'll like it for giving them something that's deeper and stranger than they would expect from a graphic novel based on a video game."

In addition, Mechner updated on the Prince of Persia movie currently in its formative stages, and being developed by Disney and Pirates Of The Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer. According to the writer/designer: "[Corpse Bride/Charlie & The Chocolate Factory screenwriter] John August and I set up the project with Bruckheimer and Disney, and I wrote a bunch of drafts of the screenplay. It's in really good shape, and it looks like the movie's going."

The full Gamasutra interview with Mechner also includes more detail on his working relationship with Ubisoft, the importance of solid game writing, and the inspiration for the original Prince of Persia on the Apple II.